Guerin Woods & Providence House

Guerin Woods & Providence House comprises Guerin, Inc., Providence Self-Sufficiency Ministries, Inc., and The Meadows of Guerin, Inc., all 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporations located in Georgetown, Indiana.

Our range of services and programs includes income-based senior living for independent individuals aged sixty-two and older, a community Senior Center for seniors in Floyd County, Indiana, and Providence House, a unique residential family reunification program for families involved with the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS).

The Mission of
Guerin Woods

The Mission of Guerin Woods is to assist children, families, and seniors through meaningful connections, family self-sufficiency and treatment programs, and affordable senior housing.

Our Staff

Joel Henderson

President & CEO

Melany Wessels

CFO

Dr. Liz England

Providence House Executive Director

Jada Muir

Apartment Manager

Board of Directors

Ashley
Barnes

Chairperson

Aaron
Jackson

Treasurer

Sr. Nancy
Reynolds, SP

Secretary

Jeff
McCaffrey

Director

Nancy
Brinksneader

Director

Lynn
Jarrell

Director

Luanne
Mattson

Director

Sr. Laura
Parker, SP

Director

Ginny
McGarvey

Director

Director

Historical Timeline

Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, our namesake, founded the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary of the Woods, Indiana. Mother Théodore journeyed from France to what was then the wilderness of Indiana to establish schools and care for the sick and poor. Click here to learn more about Mother Théodore Guérin.

Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries (PSSM) was founded in New Albany, Indiana, on September 5, 1994, by six Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Sister Barbara Ann Zeller, who led the organization until her passing in 2019, established PSSM to address the needs of abused and neglected children and to provide educational and social services to residents in public housing in New Albany and Floyd County, Indiana.

PSSM was incorporated in February 1995 and was located at the former Holy Family Convent in New Albany, Indiana, on Daisy Lane. They created Providence House for Children, Floyd County’s first group home for children, accommodating up to ten boys and girls aged three to fourteen. Over 260 children were cared for until its closure in 2011.

Guerin, Inc. (Guerin) was established on November 23, 1998, to acquire 12.48 vacant acres from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

Guerin broke ground on Providence House for Children, which included two group homes for twenty foster children, a duplex, and a fourplex consisting of three-bedroom apartments.

In November 2000, PSSM ushered in a new chapter as it relocated Providence House for Children to its brand-new campus.

Guerin, Inc. adopted its desired mission of serving children, families, and senior citizens by creating a multigenerational campus, adding services, facilities, and programing that encouraged interaction, growth and enrichment.

In June 2004, Guerin, Inc. optioned 11.6-acres of land contiguous to Providence House for the purpose of creating Guerin Woods, a development for senior citizens. The development would later provide a full continuum of care for Elders including independent living apartments, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and a senior citizens center.

The name Guerin Woods is derived from Saint Mother Théodore Guérin’s legacy: ‘Guerin’ honors her, and ‘Woods’ is in tribute to St. Mary of the Woods.

Guerin, Inc. opened Guerin Senior Apartments in April 2005 in conjunction with the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). These apartments are specifically for seniors sixty-two and older who have “limited to moderate income.” Click here to learn more about our two-bedroom apartments.

Coinciding with its development, Guerin, Inc. became a Community Housing and Development Organization (CHDO).

In April, Guerin opened the Guerin Woods Senior Center, which is open to all seniors in Floyd and surrounding counties.

The Meadows of Guerin, Inc. was incorporated on November 26, 2007, to develop additional senior housing.

That same year, construction of the Villas of Guerin Woods, a unique assisted living, long-term care, skilled-nursing, and memory care facility began.

Guerin opened the Villas of Guerin Woods in May 2008; the facility started with two “small house model” Villas and added six more over the following thirteen years.

The Meadows of Guerin apartments, a HUD 202 PRAC (Project Rental Assistance Contract) Supportive Housing for the Elderly project, opened to the public in April 2009.

Providence House for Children closed on December 17, 2011, due to a political and philosophical change in state funding that caused most group homes for children in Indiana to close. With its closure as a group home for children, Providence House (as it is still known today) pivoted towards the programming it still provides. Click here to learn more about Providence House.

Until September 2017, Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries, Inc. was a sponsored ministry of the SPs. However, the SPs officially ended the sponsorship in September and transferred the governance of the organization to Guerin, Inc.

Our founder, Sister Barbara Ann Zeller, passed away on August 1, 2019. She was President & CEO of all three entities until her death. Click here to learn more about Sister Barbara Ann Zeller.

Susan Gernert was named her successor as President & CEO.

In January 2022, Guerin sold the Villas of Guerin Woods, and the new owner retained the name with a twist: The Villas of Guerin Woods HEALTHCARE. The Villas were sold again in 2024 and renamed The Waters of Georgetown.

Susan Gernert departed the organization as President and CEO in July 2022, handing the reins over to Joel Henderson.

We Are Here For You

Have questions? Reach out to our team, and we’ll ensure you get the information you need. We’re here to help!